- Family Carers to receive digital training to assist them with gaining employment
- Appointment of new Wellbeing Manager to provide practical support to Young Carers
- Investment under ‘Dormant Accounts Fund’ to mark European Carers Day
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Wednesday, 6th October) announced €380,000 in supports for family carers across the country.
The funding, announced on ‘European Carer’s Day’, will support carers through the learning of new digital skills designed to facilitate a return to paid employment.
This will include online training in social media, ICT, remote working and CV preparation.
Funding will also be provided for the appointment of a ‘Young Carer Wellbeing Manager’, who will provide practical support to young carers.
This additional funding, under the Dormant Accounts Fund, will be provided to Care Alliance Ireland and Family Carers Ireland.
Making the announcement, Minister Humphreys said:
“As we celebrate ‘European Carers Day’, I am delighted to announce additional funding of over €380,000 in supports for carers across the country.
“Over €180,000 will be provided to Care Alliance Ireland. This funding will be used to support carers through developing digital skills that will assist them in terms of upskilling and securing new employment into the future.
“I am also delighted to provide €200,000 to Family Carers Ireland. This investment will fund new initiatives that specifically promote the well-being of young carers.
“For example, a Young Carer Wellbeing Manager will be appointed. This individual will be available to provide supports to our young carers if and when they need them.”
The Minister added:
“Our carers have endured such a challenging year due to Covid-19.
“And I know our young carers have missed out on the personal interactions and peer supports that help them deal with their caring responsibilities.
“It is fitting therefore that in Ireland, and across Europe, the role played by our carers is being celebrated today.
“Finally I want to thank Care Alliance Ireland, Family Carers Ireland and all our Carers organisations for the important work they do.”
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Dormant Accounts Fund
The Dormant Accounts Acts 2001-2012, together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003, provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings.
The main purpose of the legislation is to reunite account or policy holders with their funds in credit institutions or insurance undertakings and in this regard, these bodies are required to take steps to identify and contact the owners of dormant accounts and unclaimed life assurance policies.
In order to utilise the unused funds in dormant accounts and unclaimed policies to best use, the legislation also introduced a scheme for the disbursement of funds that are unlikely to be reclaimed from dormant accounts and unclaimed policies for the purposes of measures to assist:
- the personal and social development of people who are economically or socially disadvantaged;
- the educational development of people who are educationally disadvantaged; or
- people with a disability.
The Department of Social Protection provides a range of supports to family carers which include Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. The total estimated expenditure on these schemes for 2021 is almost €1.5 billion.